Hodgson 'needs race appreciation training'

ESPN staff

October 18, 2013

Hodgson joke reaction

The FA have been sent a letter of complaint by pressure group Race for Sport demanding Roy Hodgson undergo "race appreciation" training.

The group, run by Society of Black Lawyers head Peter Herbert, have called on the FA in a four-page complaint to take action over Hodgson's 'monkey' joke after chairman Greg Dyke gave the England manager his backing and declared the matter closed.

Hodgson has apologised for the space monkey joke during his half-time team talk on Tuesday, which was intended to get England to keep passing the ball to Andros Townsend.

It is believed one player thought the joke had racial connotations, and leaked it to the press.

Now Race for Sport want the FA to act over the incident. Herbert's letter reads: "To announce that the matter is 'closed' without any action being taken against the England manager is unacceptable and wholly inconsistent with your policies on equality and diversity.

"For Mr Hodgson or anyone else to make an apology if they fail to understand why the words used were offensive or potentially so is not the response of an institution with the resources and profile of the FA.

"The 'innocent remark' made out of ignorance is sadly a common feature of football. We are using the appropriate complaints procedure to urge the FA to provide mandatory 'race appreciation' training and 'cultural capital and cultural intelligence' training to Roy Hodgson and all football managers in the UK."